Knitting-machine needle.



No. 707,980. Patenfed Aug. 26, I902.

R. w. scan". v

KNITTING MACHI NE NEEDLE. (Application filed Oct. 18. 1901.)

(N0 Model.)

UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. SCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIONOR OF ONE-HALF TO LOUIS N. D. WILLIAMS, OF ASHBOURNE, PENNSYL- VANIA.

KNITTING-MACHINE NEEDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,980, dated August 26, 1902. Application filed October 18,190l. Serial No. 79,110. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT W. Scorr, a citizen of the United States, residing in Phila-' delphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Knitting-Machine Needles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of knit-- ting-machine needles which are commonly known as latch-needles, and it consists of an improvement whereby the damage to the knitted web caused by the breakage of the needles is largely prevented.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 are side views of the upper or hooked end of a knitting-machine latch-nee dle, showing different embodiments of my invention. Fig. 5 is a back view illustrating another embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating still another method of making the needle in accordance with my invention.

In operating knitting machinery employing latch-needles the principal cause of the breakage of the needles is the presence of knots or lumps in the yarn, which being too large or thick to pass throughthe hook of the needle when the latch is closed upon it result in the breaking or distortion of some part of the needle, so as to render it incapable of performing its intended duty, the consequence being that the yarn loads up on the broken or distorted needle and interferes with the neighboring needles on each side, thus spreading the trouble until,if the machine is not stopped, the whole set of needles is involved, and serious damage to the cams and other delicate parts of the machine results. Sometimes the knot or lump laterally deflects the latch to such an extent that said latch fails to properly perform its function of directing the stitch over the hook of the needle, thus permitting yarn after yarn to engage with and be caught and held by the hook. In other cases. there is a partial straightening of the hook or a complete straightening of the same, or,'again,abreaking off of the point of the hook, the latch in each casebeing rendered inoperative,--withthe resulting objectionable loading up of =the yarn., on the needle. I overcome this objection by locallyweakening the upper portion of the needle in such manner that when undue strain is exerted upon the hook the latter will be so broken that the yarn cannot be caught and held, the result being that the needle simply drops its stitch, the trouble being confined to the needle or needles originally broken. Hence instead of causing a large and unsightly hole in the knitted web incapable of being mended a drop-stitch alone results, which can be readily mended and the web thereby saved.

That method of carrying out my invention shown in Fig. 1 consists simply in nicking or notching the back of the hook, as at 1, at the point where it joins the stem of the needle, while in the needle shown in Fig. 2 the same result is effected by-a nick or notch 2 in the throat of the hook at the same point, and

in the needle shown in Fig. 3 an opening 3 is there formed, while in the needle shown in Fig. 5 the shank is thinned by depressions or nicks 4 in the sides of the same or only in one side, as desired.

In that form of needle shown in Fig. 6 the intended result is attained by forming a slot 5 in the back of the hook, and in the needle shown in Fig. 4: the weakening of the hook is effected by hardening the same, as at 6, at the desired point of breakage. In each of these cases undue strain upon the hook will cause the same to break at the point where it is 10- cally weakened, and the upper end of the needle-stem will then present no portion capable of catching and retaining the yarn. Hence the loading up of work upon the needle and the damaging results due to such action are efiectually overcome.

While it is preferable to locally weaken the hook of the needle, so that in the event of breakage the bent upper portion of the hook will be the only part carried away, the weakening may be at a point lower down on the stem of the needle so long as the part broken off is not such as to interfere with the proper continuance of the knitting operation by the other needles.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A knitting-machine latch-needle having its upper portion locally weakened so as to point below the bend of the hook so as to 10- 10 cause breakage at a predetermined point cally weaken the same. when the hook is subjected to undue strain. In testimony whereof I have signed my 2. A knitting-machine latch-needle having name to this specification in the presence of its hook locally weakened whereby, When said two subscribing witnesses.

J os. H. KLEIN.

hook is subjected to undue strain, the bent I ROBERT W. SCOTT. portion of the same will be broken oflf. I Witnesses:

3. Aknitting-maohinelatch-needle having I F. E. BECHTOLD,

the upper portion of the same recessed at a 

